Facing intense public criticism and mounting safety concerns, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has initiated work to reduce the height of oversized 'table top' speed bumps installed at several major squares in west Nagpur. The structures, part of an intersection improvement project, were deemed excessively high and dangerous, prompting urgent corrective action.
Public and Official Backlash Forces Rethink
The decision to modify the bumps came after sharp complaints from daily commuters, traffic police officials, and road safety experts. Motorists, especially those on two-wheelers and in smaller vehicles, reported that the steep and bulky structures posed a serious risk of accidents. Frequent issues included sudden braking, skidding, and a loss of vehicle balance, particularly during peak traffic hours and at night.
Traffic police had formally pointed out that the bumps were disrupting smooth traffic flow and endangering commuters. Executive engineer Alapana Patane (Tarekar) of NMC's public works department confirmed that the constructed bumps did not match the approved design. "Ideally, the height of these table tops should be around eight inches, but the ones constructed at Kachipura Square are much higher," she stated. The NMC is not removing them entirely but is flattening them to a safer height, with work expected to be completed within a couple of days.
A Flawed Project from the Start
Investigations revealed that the contractor responsible for the work had deviated significantly from the sanctioned plan, resulting in left-turn bumps that were far higher than prescribed. This particular design was originally conceptualized by the National Highway division of the Public Works Department (PWD) for implementation on Wardha Road.
The project had been criticized as fundamentally flawed by senior traffic officials. Archit Chandak, the then deputy commissioner of police (traffic) for Nagpur, now SP Akola, had earlier termed the intersection improvement project problematic. He argued that instead of easing traffic, the geometric changes created fresh bottlenecks. He noted that landscaped traffic islands had swallowed entire lanes at several junctions, worsening congestion.
Lack of Coordination and Accountability
Further scrutiny exposed serious lapses in planning and inter-departmental coordination. Sources indicated that no permissions were sought from the District Road Safety Committee before executing the project, raising critical questions about accountability in civic infrastructure works.
Former Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Madhuri Baviskar had also written to Municipal Commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari, highlighting the safety and congestion issues arising from the redesigned junctions. On critical arterial roads like Central Bazaar Road, which requires an approach width of at least 14 metres for smooth vehicle queuing, the altered geometry compromised space. This has led to longer signal cycles and significantly slower overall traffic movement.
The ongoing rectification work in Nagpur underscores the vital importance of adhering to approved designs and conducting proper safety consultations before implementing changes to public road infrastructure.
